Valve control means



Patented 21, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE coN'moL MEANS Otto Thiel, Detroit, Mich.

' Application February ze, 1943, seriaiNo. 477,194

7 Claims.

This application relates to control'means for gas-charged-liquid devices, such as carbonators, and particularly to means for controlling the vent valves of such devices.

Control means now known include hollow sealed devices, generally spherical in shape. Because of pressure differentials between the inside and outside of such devices it is Anecessary to make them of heavysheet metal and lto form their joints very carefully; otherwise collapse is certain. Even where such precautions are taken, very often these devices collapse in use with consequent annoyance and danger.

In some instances, the control means include moving parts outside of the dispensing tank, connected to the tank by ilexible tubes, and this is not satisfactory since the exposed parts, outside of the tank, may .become lblocked or injured, with consequent impairment of their functions.

In the control means here shown, I do not use hollow sealed devices but instead use light gauge, thin sheet metal open end cups. In addition, all of the controlling parts, including these cups, are disposed within the dispensing tank where they are in protected position.

An embodiment according to the fo-regoing is described in this specification, which refers to the attached drawing, whose single gure diagrammatically shows that embodiment.

The drawing shows a sealed bottom tank I whose upper end is closed by a head II having a valved vent opening I2 adapted to =be closed by a needlevalve I3 pivotally connected at its lower end to a lever I4, at a point l5 intermediate the two ends of this lever. The right end I6 of this lever is connected by a vertical link I'l to an open top thin sheet metal cup I8 and the left end ISa of this lever is connected topa counterweight I9, comprising a weight link having weighting nuts ICI. 137-69) v the lower cup I8 which is filled with water whose weight has overcome the counterweight and has lowered vent valve I3 to open. The Weight of rock counterclockwise on its pivot 24 to unlatch the counterweight at 2I-22, which, being unopposed and unlatched, drops and lifts the valve I3 to close.

If enough water =be drawn off, so that the water level drops to free the upper cup, the latter will drop and position its recess 22 to receive lug 2l I and lock the counterweight, if and when the latthreaded onto its lower end. Lever I4 is pivoted 40 to the tank at 2li, a fixed pivot. Near the upper y end of the weight link is a'latching lug 2| which may seat'in a latching recess 22 in one arm of a v shaped bracket 23, pivoted on the casing by a fixed pivot 24 and, having the ends of its two 45 arms fastened to an open bottom or inverted thin sheet metal cup 25. For. gas-charged-water, there are the usual inlet and outlet pipes 26 and 21; The vent opening I2 communicates. toatmosphere through an 50 exhaust tube 28. The operation is as follows: Assume the cycle starts `with the parts in the position shown in the drawing. At this time", the

ter moves up, out of its lower position, wherein its lug 2| is out of registry with latch recess 22 of the bracket.

As the water level further drops, exposing lower cup I8, the latter, being full, and exposed, will once more have weight and will move up the counterweight to relatch it at 2 I22 to the upper cup bracket 23, and to open the valve I3.

This is the desired cycle of operations in this type of device.

The control means shown accomplishes this resuit without the use of hollow sealed devices or .flexible hose connections, etc., and with all the a valve below itfor rising and closing it, or for dropping and opening it, comprising a counterweight for :biasing said valve upwardly to close, an open top cup at the lower end of the tank operatively connected to the counterweight and to the valve in such a manner that when it rises it frees the counterweight to drop, and thus lift the valve to close, and when it drops, it overcomes and lifts the counterweight, and lowers the valve to open, means providing a latch for the counter-` weight to prevent it from rising or falling, and an open bottom cup at the upper end of the tank, operatively connected to the latch in such a manner that when it, rises it unlatches lor releases the counterweight, freeing it so as to be under Water ,level is low, well below the upper Vend of 'the control of the lower` cup,`vand when' it drops it resets the latch in position to seize the counter'- weight and hold it, if and when the counterweight rises to the latch in response to a lowering of the lower cup.

2. Control means for the upper head vent valve of a tank having a gas-charged-liquld inlet and a gas-charged-liquid outlet and having a vent, and a valve .below it for rising and closingit, or for dropping and opening it, comprising a counterweight for biasing said valve upwardly to close, an open top cup at the lower end of the tank operatively connected'to the counterweight and 4to the valve in such a manner that when it rises lit frees the counterweight to drop, and thus lift the valve to close, and when it drops, it overcomes and lifts the counterweight, and lowers the valve to open, means providing a latch for the counterweight to prevent it from rising or falling, and an open bottom cup at the upper end of the tank, operatively connected to the latch .in such a manner that when it rises it unlatches or releases the counterweight, freeing it so as to be under the control of the lower cup, and when it drops it resets the latch in position to seize the counterweight and hold it, if and when the counterweight rises to the latch in response to a lowering of the lower cup, the cups, the latch, and,

the counterweight, all being within the tank.

3. Control means for the upper head vent valve of a tank having a gas-charged-liquid inlet and a gas-charged-liquid outlet and having a vent, and a valve below it for rising and closing it, or for dropping and opening it, comprising a counterweight for biasing said valve upwardly to close, an open top cup at the lower end of the tank operatively connected to the counterweight and to the valve in such a manner that when it rises it frees the counterweight to drop, and thus lift the valve to close, and when it drops, it overcomes and lifts the counterweight, and lowers the valve to open, means providing a latch for the counterweight to prevent itfrom rising or falling, and an open bottom cupat the upper end of the tank, operatively connected tothe latch in such a manner that when it rises it unlatches or releases the counterweight, freeing it so as to be under the control of the lower cup, and when it drops it resets 'the' latch yin position to seize the counterweight and hold it, if and when the counterweight rises to the latch in response to a lowering of the lower cup, the cups, the latch, and

the counterweight,-all being within the tank, and interconnected by links or the like also within the tank. A

4. Control means for the upper head vent valve of a tank having a gas-charged-liquid in let and agas-charged-liquid outlet and having a vent, and a valve below it for rising and closing it, or for dropping and opening it, comprising a counterweight for biasing said valve upwardly to close, an open top cup at the lower end of the tank operatively connected to the counterweight and to the valve in such a manner that when it rises it frees the counterweight to drop, and thus lift the valve tJ close, and when it drops, it over'- comes and lifts the counterweight, and lowers the valve,A to open, means providing a latch for the counterweight to prevent it from rising or falling, and an open bottom cup at the\upper end of the-tankoperatively connected to the ,latch in f'such 4a manner that when it rises it unlatches or releases the counterweight, freeing it so as to be under the control ofthe lower'cup, and when it drops it resets the latch in position to seize the counterweight and hold it, if and when the $01.141-

terweight rises to the latch in response to a lowering of the lower cup, the control means including a lever within the tank, pivoted tween its ends on a fixed pivot, and having at ends pivotal connections to links, one of which connects one end of the lever to the lower cup, and the other of which, in eifect, forms part of the counterweight, and connects the lever to the rest of the counterweight, with the` lower end of the valve being connected to the lever at a point between the lever pivot and the end thereof connected to the lower cup. A

5. Control means for the upper head vent valve of a tank having a gas-charged-liquid inlet and a' gas-charged-liquid outlet and having a vent, and a valve below it for rising and closing it, or for dropping and opening it, comprising a cou.n-y terweight for biasing said valve upwardly to close, an open top cup at the lower end of the tank operatively connected to the counterweight and tothe valve in such a manner that when it rises it freesthe counterweight to drop, and thus lift the valve to close,4 and when it drops, it overcomes and lifts the counterweight, and lowers the valve to open, means providing a latch for the counterweight to prevent it from risingV or falling, and an open bottom cup at the upper end of the tank, operatively connected to the latch in such a manner that when it rises it unlatches or releases the counterweight, freeing it so as to be under the control of the lower cup, and when it drops it resets the latch in position to seize the counterweight and hold it, if and when the counterweight rises tothe latch in response to a lowering'of the lower cup, the upper cup having an extending arm pivotally mounting it, with the latch comprising interengaging formations on the counterweight andon said arm, released by upward pivotal movement of the upper cup.

6. Control means for the upper head vent valve of a tank having a gas-charged-liquid inlet and a gas-charged-liquid outlet and having a vent, anda valve below it for rising and closing it, or for dropping and opening it, comprising a counterweight for biasing said valve upwardly to close, an open top vcup at the lower end of the tank operatively connected to the counterweight and to the valve in such a manner that when it rises itfrees the counterweight to drop, andl thus lift the valveto close, and when it drops, it overcomes and lifts the counterweight, and lowers the valve to open, means providing a latch for the counterweight to prevent it from rising or falling, and an open bottom cup at the upper end of the tank, operatively connected to the latch in sucha manner that when it rises it unlatches or releases the counterweight, freeing it so as to be under the control of the lower cup, and when it drops it resets the latch in position to seize the counterweight and hold-it, if and when the counterweight rises to the latch in response to a lowering of the lower cup, the control means including a lever within the tank, pivoted between its ends on a fixed pivot, and having at its ends pivotal connections to links, one of which connects one end of the lever to the lower cup, and the other of which, in effect. forms part of the counterweight, and connects the leverto the rest of the counterweight, with the lower end of the valve being connected to the lever at a point between the lever pivot and the end thereofconnected to the lower cup, the upper cup having an extending arm pivotally mounting it, with the *drops it resets the latch in position to seize the counterweight and on said arm, released by upt ward pivotal movement of the upper cup.

7. Control means lor the upper head vent valve of a tank having a gas-charged-liquid inlet and a gas-charged-liquid outlet and having a vent, and a valve below it for rising and closing it, or for dropping and opening it, comprising a counterweight for biasing said valve upwardly to close. an open top cup at the lower end of the tank operatively connected to the counterweight and to the valve in such a manner that when it rises it frees the counterweight to'drop, and thus lift the valve to close, and when it drops, it overcomes and lifts the counterweight, and lowers the valve to open, means providing a latch lor the counterweight to prevent it from rising or falling, and an open bottom cup at the upper end of the tank, operativelyconnected to the latch in such a manner that when it rises it unlatches or releases the counterweight, freeing it so as to be under the control of the lower cup, and when it counterweight and hold it, if and when the counterweight rises to the latch in response to a lowering o! the lower cup, the control means including a lever within the tank, pivoted between its -ends on a xed pivot, and having at its ends pivotal connections to links, one of which connects one end of the lever to the lower cup, and the other of which, in effect, forms part of the counterweight, and connects the lever to the rest of the counterweight, with the lower end' of the valve being connected to the lever at a point between tne lever pivot and the. end thereof connected to the lower cup, 'the upper `cup having an extending arm pivotally mounting it. with the latch comprising interengaging formations on the counterweight and on said arm, released by upward pivotal movement of the upper cup, with one of the latch formations being on the upper end of the counterweight link. O'ITO THIEL. 

